General Sir William Gurdon Stirling Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Defence Science Organisation was a British Army General who reached high office during the 1960s.
Background
Born the son of Major Charles Stirling, RHA (1870–1914) of Ropers Hall, Bures, Suffolk and his wife The Honorary Amy Harriott Gurdon (1864–1944), (daughter of Lord Cranworth), William Stirling was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1926.
Career
He served in World World War II as Assistant Military Secretary at the War Office and was deployed to North Africa and North West Europe. He was appointed Commander 27th Infantry Brigade in 1952 and then Principal Staff Officer to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff in 1956. He became General Officer Commanding 2nd Division in 1958 and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief for Western Command in 1960.
He went on to be Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War in 1961 and Commander-in-Chief, British Army of the Rhine and Commander, Northern Army Group in 1963.
He retired in 1966. From 1967 to 1973 he was Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State, an officer of the Royal Household.